Navigating Law Enforcement Presence in Emergency Departments

What are strategies to manage law enforcement presence in emergency departments (EDs)?In this qualitative study involving 21 survivors of violence (SOVs), 23 representatives of a hospital-based violence intervention program, and 16 law enforcement officers, 3 themes for managing law enforcement presence in the ED emerged. These included triaging interactions with law enforcement, formalizing hospital staff and law enforcement training, and integrating SOV advocates in the ED.Findings of this study suggest that optimizing hospital environments by adopting strategies informed by multiple stakeholders can support SOV rights and recovery, mitigate adverse interactions between law enforcement and SOVs, and improve information sharing and job efficiency for different stakeholders in the ED.

Corresponding Author: Prashasti Bhatnagar, JD, MPH, University of California, Los Angeles, Haines Hall, 375 Portolo Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90024 (prashastib@ucla.edu).

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